Frame-selection picture frame simulator

ABSTRACT

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, two flat disks are mounted with one superimposed on top of the other and with a mount extending through the center of both providing for pivotal rotary motion of the top disk along the upper surface of the lower disk, and additionally there being a top member of typically fork shape at its outer end radially from a mounting inner pivot point at which the forked top member is mounted on the pivot mount also for rotation therearound, and the lower disk being of greater area on its upper face than the upper disk, and there being a series of right-angle indentations along the outer peripheral edge circumscribing each disk such that the upper disk fails to cover the right-angle edge marginally thereby leaving a small border of the lower disk visible from above, and the fork portion of the additional top member framing any of the serially arranged portions having a right-angle indentation selectively, thereby the additional top member serving to in effect blank-out the adjacent colors such that a viewer may more easily discern the true appearance of the combined-borders relative to a picture corner alignable within the right-angle of either the lower or the upper disk, making possible the envisioning of a multitude of different possible prospective picture frames for any particular picture, each portion corresponding to the respective right-angle thereof having an upper face of a different color or texture.

United States Patent [1 1 Shore A [451 Mar, 26, 1974 1 FRAME-SELECTION PICTURE FRAME SIMULATOR [76] Inventor: Frank Shore, 26 Lantern Rd.,

Hicksville, NY. 11801 [22] Filed: Mar. 30, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 346,258

[52] US. Cl. 35/53, 35/74 [51] Int. Cl. G09b 25/00 [58] Field of Search 33/112; 35/27, 38.3, 38.5, 35/49, 51, 53, 55, 56, 74; 40/70 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 513,665 1/1894 Barberie 33/112 2,071,338 2/1937 Henze 35/53 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,517,049 2/1968 France 35/53 1,138,666 10/1962 Germany 35/53 1,218,321 6/1966 Germany 35/28.5

Primary ExaminerHarland S. Skogquist [57] ABSTRACT In a preferred embodiment of the invention, two flat disks are mounted with one superimposed on top of the other and with a mount extending through the center of both providing for pivotal rotary motion of the top disk along the upper surface of the lower disk, and additionally there being a top member of typically fork shape at its outer end radially from a mounting inner pivot point at which the forked top member is mounted on the pivot mount also for rotation therearound, and the lower disk being of greater area on its upper face than the upper disk, and there being a series of right-angle indentations along the outer peripheral edge circumscribing each disk such that the upper disk fails to cover the right-angle edge marginally thereby leaving a small border of the lower disk visible from above, and the fork portion of the additional top member framing any of the serially arranged portions having a right-angle indentation selectively, thereby the additional top member serving to in effect blankout the. adjacent colors such that a viewer may more easily discern the true appearance of the combinedborders relative to a picture corner alignable within the right-angle of either the lower or the upper disk, making possible the envisioning of a multitude of different possible prospective picture frames for any particular picture, each portion corresponding to the respective right-angle thereof having an upper face of a different color or texture.

8 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures FRAME-SELECTION PICTURE FRAME SIMULATOR The present invention is directed to an improved de- BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION Prior to the present invention, there have existed merely single corner devices symbolic of a pictureframe corner portion into which inner right-angle corner angle thereof a picture was placed, alternating be tween a plurality of different corner portions of different designs, .colors, textures, or the like, in order to make an aesthetic determination as to which, in the opinion of the viewer, picture frame provides the better framing structure for that particular picture. Such procedure required a book of many pages or panels or the like, which are cumbersome and bulky and spaceconsuming. Because of the size of each as well as a collectionof different ones, it is not practical for such to be readily transportable with each saleman or for each salesman to have a separate one, as well as such books, collection or the like being costly.

Additionally, such prior corner devices required a separate simulator frame for each combination of frame-designs having dual borders of different shades, colors, textures, or the like.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to obtain one or more of the difficulties and/or problems of the type discussed above.

Additionally, another object is to obtain a small portable and convenient-sized device having a plurality of picture-frame simulating corner portions on a single device each utilizable alone or in combination with another overlapping or overlapped portion simulative of an inner border for a double-framing effect.

Another object is, with a device obtaining one or more of the above-noted objects, a blanking-out of adjacent areas to the view of the eye looking downwardly onto the surfaces of the simulating section(s).

Other objects include the obtaining of the abovenoted one or more objects at low cost of labor and/or materials.

Other objects become apparent from the preceding and following disclosure.

One or more objects of the present invention are obtained by the inventionas defined herein.

over the other on a pivot mount with the separate protions separately rotatably pivotable around the pivot mount, with the right-angle edge of the-lower portion being spaced further away radially outwardly from the pivot mount than the right-angle edge of the upper portion, such that the square corner of a picture may be positioned in the right-angle corner of the lower portion to gain the effect of a double border of that particular combination of frames, the upper portion surface (upwardly facing face) being the circumscribing-frame simulator and the lower portion upper surface being the provider of the visible narrow edge adjacent the inner right angle portion adjacent the picture being compared. Alternatively, the viewer may'place the picture on top of the lower border surface snugly and flushly within the right-angle of theupper portion in order to get the viewers impression of the picture with a single frame. In a preferred embodiment, there is additionally a third, toppivotally mounted portion pivotable on a pivot mount on which the other two layers are pivoted, the top third portion being shaped to cover-up with fork-like extensions the adjacent right-angle portions on each of oppositely left and right sides of the portion not-covered to be used as the simulated frame, for each of the lower and intermediate portions. In a preferred embodiment having a multi-point appearance in which there are serially arranged around a circular lower disk and similarly arranged around the upper smaller disk a plurality of right-angle frame portions, by the intermediate portion being pivotable relative to the bottom disk there are provided a high variety of possible combinations. Also it is desirable that the forked top third layer be of only sufficient largeness in area as to blank-out the adjacent portions on either side of that portion desired to be specifically compared, in order that the viewer may nevertheless glance around at other combinations not covered by the blanking-out top third member.

THE FIGURES DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION FIG. 1 illustrates a simple-version picture-frame simulator 7 of the invention, having a lower typically plastic or cardboard portion 8 having upper and lower flattened faces with the upper face thereof typically being gold in color and having a right-angle indentation with right-angle l5, and the overlapping separate card portion 9 of basically a shape similar to that of card 8, ex- I cept that from the pivot-mount 13. from which both extend laterally outwardly, the card 9 does not extend outwardly as far before beginning its respective edge right-angle indentation, with the result that the visible border area of 8 is left not covered whereas other portions of card 8 are covered when card 9 is in its mosttotal note position, card 9 being typically blue in color; not however, that the card 9 may be pivoted around off-of most of the surface of card 8, whereby each of the cards 8 and 9 may be separately utilized as a single border in simulation of a corner of a picture frame. Note also that in the preferred arrangement illustrated, there is a corresponding outside-border right angle 16 corresponding to the right angles 14 and 15 to give a full and complete accurate impression to the viewer as to the appearance of such a frame in relation to a picture 11 (shown in phantom) having its left upper corner l2 placed within the right-angle corner 15. FIG. 1 further illustrates the imaginary extension of the card 9. Typically the cards 9 and 8 respectively come to a point 17 and 18 respectively.

Each ofthe cross-sectional view of FIGS. 2 and 3 correspond to the labeling of FIG. 1, except additionally illustrating a rivet-type base 13a ofthe pivot mount 13.

The embodiment of FIG. 4 corresponds in prime labeling of parts corresponding to those of FIG. 1. The variation in shape is self-evident, with the blue over gold at one end being illustrated and with silver on red at the other end being illustrated; it should be under stood that by pivoting 180 the top member identified as 9' and 9", there is provided another combination at each end, namely silver over gold and blue over red, each respectively. By a 90 turn, each of the gold, blue, silver, and red may separately have a picture corner fitted thereinto for getting the appearance thereof to the viewer.

In the FIG. 5 embodiment, there is disclosed an embodiment more generally of the type of FIG. 1, except with a plurality of adjacent serially arranged alternative choices arranged peripherally around the disk, again the prime designations corresponding to the previously labeled similar parts or elements. Additionally however, there is illustrated a top dialer which is commonly pivoted but hides or conceals from view the serially adjacent choices on each of opposite sides of the choice being currently compared, the fork legs a and 20b of element 19 serving to mask the adjacent portions from view. Thereby accordingly the viewer can more accurately discern the aesthetic appearance to himself devoid of the adjacent confusing colors. However, the element 19 preferably does not cover other portions around the disks thereby allowing the viewer with a glimpse to ascertain other existing possible combination (s) that the viewer may wish to try with his particular picture to be framed. With this embodiment, the picture may be placed within the right-angle indentation of the lower disk 8" or may alternatively be placed on top of the visible portion of the lower disk 8" and flushly against the right-angle edge of the card 9" in order to get the impression of such a frame alone i.e., not combined (not a'double border effect).

The FIG. 6 embodiment is a crosssection taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 5, disclosing the three layers, namely the bottom disk 8", the intermediate layer-top disk 9", and the top layer-concealing element 19.

It is within the scope and spirit of the present invention to make such modifications and variations as are apparent to a person of ordinary skill, it being clear that the present illustrated embodiments are merely for the purpose of better understanding of the nature and heart of the invention, it being within the scope of the invention to make these variations and substitutions of equivalents.

I claim:

l. A picture-frame simulating device comprising in combination: a substantially rigid sheet-structure having opposite upper and lower faces with at least the upper face substantially flat, the sheet-structure defining a side-edge shape of right-angle indentation and the upper face being of a predetermined color; and an overlapping substantially rigid frame-structure having opposite upper and lower faces with at least the lower face substantially flat and superimposed and laterally slidable across said sheet-structure's upper face, said frame-structure being adapted to be pivotably mounted on said sheet-structure, and said frame-structure defining another side-edge shape of right-angle indentation and being of a size smaller than the sheet-structure such that when theframe-structure fully is superimposed over the sheet-structure a remaining narrow ledge step-portion remains uncovered; and pivot means mounting the frame-structure on top of the sheetstructure for lateral to and fro slidable movement on top of the sheet-structure, such that the lower said sheet-structure may be utilized alone or that the upper said frame-structure may be utilized alone or that both the sheet-structure and the frame-structure may be utilized jointly, in simulation of a picture frame corner frame portion for visual discernment of alternative frames or combined double frames for a picture to be framed.

2. A picture-frame simulating device of claim 1, in which at-least one of the sheet-structure and the framestructure includes a second side-edge shape of rightangle indentation located such that the other one of the sheet-structure and the frame-structure is pivotable for combination-comparison visually thereto by becoming a state of one over-lapping the other.

3. A picture-frame simulating device of claim 2, in which both of the sheet-structure and the framestructure each include a second side-edge of rightangle indentation, each upper portion corresponding to a side-edge of right angle indentation differing in color or texture from the other side-edge of right angle indentation, for each respectivelyof the sheet-structure and the frame structure.

4. A picture-frame simulating device of claim 3, including a third layered element superimposed on top of said frame-structure's upper face and over at-least said ledge step-portion of the sheet-structures upper face, said third layered element being shaped along an edge thereof to an indentation shape to expose each of the side-edge of right'angle indentation face of the framestructure and at-least the side-edge of right angle'indentation upper face ledge step-portion of the sheetstructure when the frame-structure is positioned over the sheet-structure and when the third layered element is positioned over the upper face of the framestructure, said layered element mounted on the pivot means.

5. A picture-frame simulating device of claim 4, in which each face having a shaped side edge of right angle indentation further includes line means simulative of an outer edge of the frame of a picture with the line means running parallel to the right angle indentation.

6. A picture-frame simulating device of claim 5, in

which for each of the sheet-structure and the framestructure, a plurality of consecutively serially arranged side edge portions are of'right angle indentation, arranged along a periphery in circular form for each of the sheet-structure and the frame structure respectively, each consecutive upper face corresponding to the respective right-angle indentation side edge por- 8. A picture-frame simulating device of claim 1, in

which each face having shaped side edge of right angle indentation further includes line means simulative of an outer edge of the frame of a picture with the line means running parallel to the right angle indentation.

IR l 

1. A picture-frame simulating device comprising in combination: a substantially rigid sheet-structure having opposite upper and lower faces with at least the upper face substantially flat, the sheet-structure defining a side-edge shape of right-angle indentation and the upper face being of a predetermined color; and an overlapping substantially rigid frame-structure having opposite upper and lower faces with at least the lower face substantially flat and superimposed and laterally slidable across said sheet-structure''s upper face, said frame-structure being adapted to be pivotably mounted on said sheet-structure, and said frame-structure defining another siDe-edge shape of right-angle indentation and being of a size smaller than the sheet-structure such that when the frame-structure fully is superimposed over the sheet-structure a remaining narrow ledge step-portion remains uncovered; and pivot means mounting the frame-structure on top of the sheet-structure for lateral to and fro slidable movement on top of the sheet-structure, such that the lower said sheetstructure may be utilized alone or that the upper said framestructure may be utilized alone or that both the sheet-structure and the frame-structure may be utilized jointly, in simulation of a picture frame corner frame portion for visual discernment of alternative frames or combined double frames for a picture to be framed.
 2. A picture-frame simulating device of claim 1, in which at-least one of the sheet-structure and the frame-structure includes a second side-edge shape of right-angle indentation located such that the other one of the sheet-structure and the frame-structure is pivotable for combination-comparison visually thereto by becoming a state of one over-lapping the other.
 3. A picture-frame simulating device of claim 2, in which both of the sheet-structure and the frame-structure each include a second side-edge of right-angle indentation, each upper portion corresponding to a side-edge of right angle indentation differing in color or texture from the other side-edge of right angle indentation, for each respectively of the sheet-structure and the frame structure.
 4. A picture-frame simulating device of claim 3, including a third layered element superimposed on top of said frame-structure''s upper face and over at-least said ledge step-portion of the sheet-structure''s upper face, said third layered element being shaped along an edge thereof to an indentation shape to expose each of the side-edge of right angle indentation face of the frame-structure and at-least the side-edge of right angle indentation upper face ledge step-portion of the sheet-structure when the frame-structure is positioned over the sheet-structure and when the third layered element is positioned over the upper face of the frame-structure, said layered element mounted on the pivot means.
 5. A picture-frame simulating device of claim 4, in which each face having a shaped side edge of right angle indentation further includes line means simulative of an outer edge of the frame of a picture with the line means running parallel to the right angle indentation.
 6. A picture-frame simulating device of claim 5, in which for each of the sheet-structure and the frame-structure, a plurality of consecutively serially arranged side edge portions are of right angle indentation, arranged along a periphery in circular form for each of the sheet-structure and the frame structure respectively, each consecutive upper face corresponding to the respective right-angle indentation side edge portions differing in color or texture from others of the series.
 7. A picture-frame simulating device of claim 1, in which for each of the sheet-structure and the frame-structure, a plurality of consecutively serially arranged side edge portions are of right angle indentation, arranged along a periphery in circular form for each of the sheet-structure and the frame structure respectively, each consecutive upper face corresponding to the respective right-angle indentation side edge portions differing in color or texture from others of the series.
 8. A picture-frame simulating device of claim 1, in which each face having shaped side edge of right angle indentation further includes line means simulative of an outer edge of the frame of a picture with the line means running parallel to the right angle indentation. 